You are here:

Home

Student Life

Community Service

Community Service

Community service is an integral part of the Southern Vermont College student's life.  Encouraged from the beginning to become involved in the community, students often participate in the Day of Service Program (Our Neighbors Our Selves in the fall and Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service in the spring), Alternative Spring Break, the American Red Cross Blood Drive each semester, and MooseCorps (SVC's community service club). In addition to these service opportunities, MooseCorps plans additional service events in which students may become involved.   

MooseCorps...

MooseCorps is Southern Vermont College's new community service club!  MooseCorps works to provide fun and exciting ways for students to become involved in the Bennington and surrounding communities through service.  MooseCorps members have been involved with the Council on Aging Luncheons, the American Red Cross, the Coalition for the Homeless, and many other wonderful organizations that strive to make positive change! 

Alternative Spring Break...

Each year students are given the opportunity to participate in Alternative Spring Break! ASB is continuously growing.  We are currently in the process of planning the 2011 trip; stay tuned for more information!

In March 2010, six students and two staff made the trek to Williamsburg, VA, to work with Housing Partnerships, Inc., (a United Way of Greater Williamsburg partner agency). Housing Partnerships, Inc., provides home repairs for those individuals and families who are unable to help themselves due to sickness, disability or lack of financial resources. For the March 2009 Alternative Spring Break trip, three students and one staff member worked with the Sylvia Rivera Food Pantry in New York City.  We assisted with the transition of the food pantry set up as we learned a lot about their mission. 

Our annual fundraiser, "Little Bit of Love" Care Packages, is one way we raise funds to make these trips.  Each package includes essential snacks for your student as they put in long hours studying!  To support Alternative Spring Break and show your student that you care, please check back later for information on the next "Little Bit of Love" fundraiser! 

Day of Service Programs...

Each semester, SVC joins with the Bennington community to provide much needed assistance to some of our local non-profits! Student, faculty and staff don their work clothes, work gloves, and smiles as they clean, paint, rake leaves, shovel snow and lend a hand! This program began in February of 2009 with the first annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service and continued to develop with Our Neighbors, Our Selves in October 2009. As we prepare for the coming year, we will be reaching out to local non-profit agencies to participate in the Second Annual Our Neighbors Our Selves Day of Service very soon!  Information and project applications will be posted here at a later date. 

American Red Cross Blood Drive...

Southern Vermont College and the American Red Cross partner each semester to host a blood drive on campus.  This initiative started in April 2009 and has continued to grow with each drive.  SVC students, staff and faculty join together to donate blood and volunteer their time as they work together to save lives!  This, as with many of the SVC service events, is open to the community.  We are in the process of setting the 2010-2011 drive dates.  Check back later for more information!

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bennington County...

Southern Vermont College is very proud of our longstanding relationship with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.  Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bennington County is based out of United Counseling Services.  Big Brothers Big Sisters helps children who need and want a mentor. Through the personal growth and guidance of a professionally supported, one-to-one relationship, children develop self-confidence and assurance.  Elementary age students join SVC students on campus once a week for mentoring and fun!  Are you interested in joining the SVC Big Brothers Big Sisters program?  Contact Nicole Pritikin via email (npritikin@ucsvt.org) or phone (802-442-5491 x287) or learn more about BBBS online.